Two Plot-Friendly Approaches to Generation Ships
May. 11th, 2026 10:11 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
james_davis_nicoll
When it comes to governing a generation ship, do you prefer the Watsonian or Doylist strategy?
Two Plot-Friendly Approaches to Generation Ships
james_davis_nicollWhen it comes to governing a generation ship, do you prefer the Watsonian or Doylist strategy?
Two Plot-Friendly Approaches to Generation Ships
My weekend
May. 10th, 2026 10:09 pmjames_davis_nicollJust as I was closing my house manager shift last night, an important door lost an integral part. So, I was late getting home.
Today, get in, door not fixed. I get to make sure it is used judiciously.
During the early part of the evening shift, someone on campus, concerned that there was someone on campus pretending to be a cop, decided that the best course of action was to dress entirely in black, including mask, then approach random people to warn them there was a fake cop on campus. This did not instill calm but the campus cops dealt with it.
As I was waiting to go home, I thought I could smell skunk. Asked my HM about it. It seems someone managed to anger the local skunk enough to get sprayed. Not me!
Today, get in, door not fixed. I get to make sure it is used judiciously.
During the early part of the evening shift, someone on campus, concerned that there was someone on campus pretending to be a cop, decided that the best course of action was to dress entirely in black, including mask, then approach random people to warn them there was a fake cop on campus. This did not instill calm but the campus cops dealt with it.
As I was waiting to go home, I thought I could smell skunk. Asked my HM about it. It seems someone managed to anger the local skunk enough to get sprayed. Not me!
L&O season 3: Episode 6
May. 10th, 2026 06:52 pmsabotabbyThis one's just bad. Not actively harmful or anything, it just doesn't make any sense.
( Family Meal )
( Family Meal )
surfacing, sort of
May. 10th, 2026 03:23 pmjazzfishDropped the condo price and had another open house yesterday. Two people came by. It only takes one but I am not at all optimistic.
At this point I don't know what to do.
( oof )
We've had a lot of good lap time this past week. Well, "lap." Mr Tuppert does not Do laps. He'll flop over my ankle or curl up next to my shin, though, and will ask for scritches before catnapping. He missed me while I was gone. It's mutual.
Currently reading Murderbot, specifically Network Effect and System Collapse. A new one is out last week or this, and I preordered it as a last hurrah before I left. Still haven't gotten into Cameron Reed's new book. Maybe next.
This week: start looking for A Job Any Job; look into rental prospects; compact the stuff in the storage unit. Continue looking for A Real Job, continue practising and going to sessions, pet cat, feed self.
None of it was supposed to be like this.
Oh well.
"The release of all thought of an alternative to the present moment."
(I am not currently a danger to myself or others.)
At this point I don't know what to do.
( oof )
We've had a lot of good lap time this past week. Well, "lap." Mr Tuppert does not Do laps. He'll flop over my ankle or curl up next to my shin, though, and will ask for scritches before catnapping. He missed me while I was gone. It's mutual.
Currently reading Murderbot, specifically Network Effect and System Collapse. A new one is out last week or this, and I preordered it as a last hurrah before I left. Still haven't gotten into Cameron Reed's new book. Maybe next.
This week: start looking for A Job Any Job; look into rental prospects; compact the stuff in the storage unit. Continue looking for A Real Job, continue practising and going to sessions, pet cat, feed self.
None of it was supposed to be like this.
Oh well.
"The release of all thought of an alternative to the present moment."
(I am not currently a danger to myself or others.)
The Death of Grass by John Christopher
May. 10th, 2026 08:56 amjames_davis_nicoll
A crop blight offers the British a chance to apply to the UK the same pragmatic measures they used during famines in Ireland and Bengal.
The Death of Grass by John Christopher
L&O season 3: Episode 5
May. 9th, 2026 06:56 pmsabotabbyThis one is. Uh. It's mediocre as a plot but absolutely horrific and irresponsible in the context of the case it's based on. Worse, it knows that and hangs a lampshade on it. But it also has some redeeming qualities, so read on if you can deal with the real case involving the murder of a child.
( Up To Snuff )
( Up To Snuff )
Books Received, May 2 — May 8
May. 9th, 2026 09:13 amjames_davis_nicoll
Six works new to me. Three are SF, two fantasy and Fiyah is a mix. At least two of the novels are series. Interesting that SF is such a large fraction. Is SF making a comeback?
Books Received, May 2 — May 8
Poll #34579 Books Received, May 2 — May 8
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 45
Which of these look interesting?
View Answers
If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light by Kim Cho-yeop (April 2026)
25 (55.6%)
The Republic of Memory by Mahmud el Sayed (May 2026)
23 (51.1%)
Mortal Things by Marie Lu (October 2026)
5 (11.1%)
Maker of Gods by Maria Z. Medina (October 2026)
1 (2.2%)
Forged in FIYAH: Celebrating Ten Years of Black Speculative Fiction edited by Davaun Sanders (September 2026)
19 (42.2%)
This Crimson Ruin by Rebecca Thorne (December 2026)
5 (11.1%)
Some other option (see comments)
2 (4.4%)
Cats!
34 (75.6%)
the ecstasy and the agony
May. 8th, 2026 10:14 pmcalimacB. wanted to hear the Winchester Orchestra in Vaughan Williams's cantata Dona nobis pacem, but only if I could drive her. I judged this more appealing than the SF Symphony, so we went. "We are a nation at war," wrote conductor James Beauton in the program notes, "which is why this evening's performance feels especially relevant." It was a fine performance, solid orchestra, strong and well-directed chorus, and soprano Amy Spencer's calls of the fading "Dona nobis pacem" were under tight control and exquisitely done.
But we should have left at intermission, because the second half was a "symphonic suite" (actually full of the chorus going "ahhh") of music from the series She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, which I've never seen nor heard of. Composer Sunna Wehrmeijer created the music digitally, so it had to be painstakingly scored so that an orchestra could play it. Was it worth the trouble? No! A lot of overloud off-the-shelf movie music, full of whooshing sounds and clanking effects. B. put in her earplugs and read from her tablet to pass the time. As for me, my watch said the piece was 40 minutes long, but it didn't seem so long, so I suspect that B. was right in saying that I did nod off for parts. Which she found amazing due to the Awful Dynne.
But we should have left at intermission, because the second half was a "symphonic suite" (actually full of the chorus going "ahhh") of music from the series She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, which I've never seen nor heard of. Composer Sunna Wehrmeijer created the music digitally, so it had to be painstakingly scored so that an orchestra could play it. Was it worth the trouble? No! A lot of overloud off-the-shelf movie music, full of whooshing sounds and clanking effects. B. put in her earplugs and read from her tablet to pass the time. As for me, my watch said the piece was 40 minutes long, but it didn't seem so long, so I suspect that B. was right in saying that I did nod off for parts. Which she found amazing due to the Awful Dynne.
OH MY GOD TOOK LONG ENOUGH
May. 8th, 2026 09:41 pmtsuki_no_baraI HAVE MY CAR BACK. FINALLY. everything turns off when you cut the engine and the garage didn't charge me for it. i picked it up and drove around for a bit just to be sure and discovered strawberries on sale in the grocery store. yay. :D tomorrow i have stuff to do and places to go but i'm still going outside to see if i can get the door open and turn it on early enough that i can plan for a rental again or cabs. i mean, sometimes things come in threes and it's already been twice.
also my mom's elbow is healing well enough on its own that she won't need surgery. this is very exciting.
today was a lovely day and it was a lovely day yesterday and the fluffy pink trees in front of my building have been shedding like no one's business so the tiny front yard is absolutely blanketed with little pink flower petals. it's like snow but... pink.
mcdonald's introduced a mcmullet in new zealand. it's basically a cheeseburger with a slice of cheese hanging out the back. silly, but so fun.
also my mom's elbow is healing well enough on its own that she won't need surgery. this is very exciting.
today was a lovely day and it was a lovely day yesterday and the fluffy pink trees in front of my building have been shedding like no one's business so the tiny front yard is absolutely blanketed with little pink flower petals. it's like snow but... pink.
mcdonald's introduced a mcmullet in new zealand. it's basically a cheeseburger with a slice of cheese hanging out the back. silly, but so fun.
A cat sonnet
May. 8th, 2026 04:13 pmpetraThere are a thousand spots to sit at home:
Upon the couch, on laundry, not just laps.
But just as all the old roads lead to Rome,
The cat returns to sit on me. Perhaps
She smells the cortisol of stress, and knows
That I'm inclined to stroke her velvet fur --
Once void-black, now specked galaxy, it flows
Softer than kitten fluff. And so she purrs,
Then settles with her head upon my wrist
And tush on laptop keys, immune to shame.
Despite spring air, my little cat finds bliss
In cuddling up and acting nearly tame.
Nine pounds of feline is enough to pin
Me to the couch, and so her reign begins.
Upon the couch, on laundry, not just laps.
But just as all the old roads lead to Rome,
The cat returns to sit on me. Perhaps
She smells the cortisol of stress, and knows
That I'm inclined to stroke her velvet fur --
Once void-black, now specked galaxy, it flows
Softer than kitten fluff. And so she purrs,
Then settles with her head upon my wrist
And tush on laptop keys, immune to shame.
Despite spring air, my little cat finds bliss
In cuddling up and acting nearly tame.
Nine pounds of feline is enough to pin
Me to the couch, and so her reign begins.
Hype Burnout
May. 8th, 2026 11:09 amlb_leeRogan: while chatting with Mori, we realized that while we aren’t really good at what most people call fandom, when we’re into something, we STAY into it, often for five years or more. ( Read more... )
Familect word: Cat-like reflexes / Cat-like timing
May. 8th, 2026 10:53 ampetraI recently got a new TENS device intended to stop migraines. The zap cycle lasts 45 minutes and makes it extremely uncomfortable to move one arm. I will report back when I know more.
This morning, the cat jumped on my lap at minute 46, just as I was going to peel off the electrodes. I could've been petting her with the other arm, but nooooo.
She is generally the entity in the house accused of cat-like reflexes, but humans can do it too.
This morning, the cat jumped on my lap at minute 46, just as I was going to peel off the electrodes. I could've been petting her with the other arm, but nooooo.
She is generally the entity in the house accused of cat-like reflexes, but humans can do it too.
Behind Five Willows by June Hur
May. 8th, 2026 08:58 amjames_davis_nicoll
Shin Haewon's family falls far short of haughty aristocrat Yu Seojun's very reasonable standards, as he is gracious enough to explain to Haewon. How cruel that fate compels extended proximity between Haewon and Seojun.
Behind Five Willows by June Hur
podcast friday
May. 8th, 2026 07:37 amsabotabby Another new-to-me podcast, Against the Grain, did an episode with not new-to-me Jordan S. Carroll, "Science Fiction and the Far-Right." It is very good. I mean, I would want Jordan to have his own podcast as he's a podcast creator's dream to interview, except that he is busy doing other things that are more important. At any rate, as someone rather deep into the SFFH community in a variety of ways, it bears repeating how closely entwined it is with our current dystopian hellscape, and Jordan is really an expert in explaining why and how.
home electrician
May. 7th, 2026 09:01 pmcalimacLast night while stumbling to the bathroom I knocked down a framed drawing from the wall while fumbling for the bathroom door. In the morning, B. discovered that the falling frame had knocked the toggle off the ancient light switch. This was the switch that controlled the overhead lights for the bedroom as well as the outlets where we plug in the fans that keep the room cool in hot summer nights, nights which are expected to resume this week. So we needed the toggle fixed, and fast.
I could have called in an electrician for much money, but there was nothing else for him to do right now in terms of home repairs. I decided to see if I could do it myself. I bought a new light switch from the local hardware store and gathered the tools. Not knowing which breaker controlled the room, I turned off the master breaker for the house.
Detaching the old switch from the wall and unconnecting the wires was one job; stripping the wire that needed it, connecting them to the new switch, and installing it in the wall was quite another. B. had found a useful illustrated article (not a video, blessed be) on how to replace a light switch. I found I already knew most of it, which was encouraging regarding my competence to do the job, but it had some useful information, such as that it doesn't matter which connection you attach each of the two hot wires to, which was relieving because the layout of the old switch and the new switch was different, so if it had mattered I wouldn't have known how to map the old one on to the new one. Unless the article had explained it, which it probably would have.
The big problem, not addressed by the article, was attaching the plate to the wall. The long screws could go through holes in the switch but couldn't fit into anything in the wall, so how was the whole (plate + switch) going to attach to the wall? I suspect that the old plate was original to the house and wasn't screwed in to the wall at all, but had been stuck on the wall paint when it was still wet; some prying had been necessary for detaching it. So I fixed the plate to the wall with a couple of pieces of transparent duct tape. One more thing to alert the landlord to whenever we do move out of here.
I could have called in an electrician for much money, but there was nothing else for him to do right now in terms of home repairs. I decided to see if I could do it myself. I bought a new light switch from the local hardware store and gathered the tools. Not knowing which breaker controlled the room, I turned off the master breaker for the house.
Detaching the old switch from the wall and unconnecting the wires was one job; stripping the wire that needed it, connecting them to the new switch, and installing it in the wall was quite another. B. had found a useful illustrated article (not a video, blessed be) on how to replace a light switch. I found I already knew most of it, which was encouraging regarding my competence to do the job, but it had some useful information, such as that it doesn't matter which connection you attach each of the two hot wires to, which was relieving because the layout of the old switch and the new switch was different, so if it had mattered I wouldn't have known how to map the old one on to the new one. Unless the article had explained it, which it probably would have.
The big problem, not addressed by the article, was attaching the plate to the wall. The long screws could go through holes in the switch but couldn't fit into anything in the wall, so how was the whole (plate + switch) going to attach to the wall? I suspect that the old plate was original to the house and wasn't screwed in to the wall at all, but had been stuck on the wall paint when it was still wet; some prying had been necessary for detaching it. So I fixed the plate to the wall with a couple of pieces of transparent duct tape. One more thing to alert the landlord to whenever we do move out of here.
Happy World Password Day!
May. 7th, 2026 08:23 pmpetraTime to update your AO3 password. It can now be 72 characters long.
Here, have a website that counts characters.
So far my favorite possible maximal password I won't use is:
Little pig little pig let me in! Not by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin!
(Sorry about the lack of vocative commas, but 72 is a harsh mistress.)
If you like poetry, there's always:
Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though
Bring me your favorite 72-character phrase that you Won't use as an AO3 password!
Here, have a website that counts characters.
So far my favorite possible maximal password I won't use is:
Little pig little pig let me in! Not by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin!
(Sorry about the lack of vocative commas, but 72 is a harsh mistress.)
If you like poetry, there's always:
Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though
Bring me your favorite 72-character phrase that you Won't use as an AO3 password!
L&O season 3: Episode 4
May. 7th, 2026 07:14 pmsabotabbyAfter having taken a wee break to watch some movies and the Great Pottery Throwdown (excellent telly btw), I am officially Back On My Bullshit.
Okay episode four of Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, entitled "Forget Me Not," was...good? That's two decent episodes in a row. Granted I'm grading on a curve because, and I can't say this often enough, this is low-budget trashy copaganda, but I actually enjoyed this one as a story. And this is the first time that neither I nor Reddit have been able to determine what this is based on, so it's possible that the writers actually made up a story.
Also this deals with care homes and dementia, so if this is a sensitive topic for you, maybe skip it.
( Forget Me Not )
Okay episode four of Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, entitled "Forget Me Not," was...good? That's two decent episodes in a row. Granted I'm grading on a curve because, and I can't say this often enough, this is low-budget trashy copaganda, but I actually enjoyed this one as a story. And this is the first time that neither I nor Reddit have been able to determine what this is based on, so it's possible that the writers actually made up a story.
Also this deals with care homes and dementia, so if this is a sensitive topic for you, maybe skip it.
( Forget Me Not )
What fascinating timing
May. 7th, 2026 05:38 pmjames_davis_nicollSeen in email:
(QWOP)
Free League Announces Legends of Stormbringer RPG Based On Dragonbane Mechanics
Elric returns to the tabletop in an officially licensed RPG powered by the award-winning Dragonbane system
Hello!
Today, we are thrilled to announce Legends of Stormbringer, a new officially licensed tabletop roleplaying game based on the iconic fantasy works of Michael Moorcock, planned for release in 2027.
Legends of Stormbringer will carry you into the Young Kingdoms – a world of dying empires, warring gods, and doomed heroes – and bring Moorcock’s richly imagined setting to the tabletop using rules mechanics based on our award-winning Dragonbane RPG. The game will feature the same accessible, dynamic, and deadly approach that has made Dragonbane one of our most celebrated titles.
Returning to the Young Kingdoms as setting writer is Richard Watts, whose work on previous Stormbringer RPGs helped define how generations of roleplayers have experienced Moorcock’s world.
“This has been in the works for several months and we’re thrilled to finally share the news,” said Tomas Härenstam, CEO of Free League Publishing. “We are honored to bring Elric and the Young Kingdoms to the tabletop once more.”
Further details – including crowdfunding plans and additional creative team announcements – will be revealed at a later date.
Seen online:
Goodman Games secures official Elric of Melniboné license for 2027 release
(QWOP)
Free League Announces Legends of Stormbringer RPG Based On Dragonbane Mechanics
Elric returns to the tabletop in an officially licensed RPG powered by the award-winning Dragonbane system
Hello!
Today, we are thrilled to announce Legends of Stormbringer, a new officially licensed tabletop roleplaying game based on the iconic fantasy works of Michael Moorcock, planned for release in 2027.
Legends of Stormbringer will carry you into the Young Kingdoms – a world of dying empires, warring gods, and doomed heroes – and bring Moorcock’s richly imagined setting to the tabletop using rules mechanics based on our award-winning Dragonbane RPG. The game will feature the same accessible, dynamic, and deadly approach that has made Dragonbane one of our most celebrated titles.
Returning to the Young Kingdoms as setting writer is Richard Watts, whose work on previous Stormbringer RPGs helped define how generations of roleplayers have experienced Moorcock’s world.
“This has been in the works for several months and we’re thrilled to finally share the news,” said Tomas Härenstam, CEO of Free League Publishing. “We are honored to bring Elric and the Young Kingdoms to the tabletop once more.”
Further details – including crowdfunding plans and additional creative team announcements – will be revealed at a later date.
Seen online:
Goodman Games secures official Elric of Melniboné license for 2027 release
Another seed I will put down to get it out of my head
May. 7th, 2026 09:10 amjames_davis_nicollHumans discover ancient and extremely enigmatic alien relics around the Solar System. On inventing plot-enabling As Fast As Light starships (PEAFAL), humans determine pretty much any system old enough has relics from the Whoever They Were (WTW). The WTW showeed up in the early Proterozoic, did their thing for 300 million years--although not on Earth, as far as anyoe can tell--and then vanished seemingly overnight for reasons that at as yet unclear.
They seem to have been interested in smaller terrestrial worlds, many of which now have life forms whose last common ancestor was six billion years ago. So probably they were xenoforming worlds? But apparently only barren worlds, for some reason. Also, if they used the PEAFAL drive, there's absolutely no evidence of it.
Age is one reason why the WTW are very enigmatic. 2.5 billion years of radiation and micrometeorites has turned all their artificial stuff into scrap. Sometimes, into subtle chemical traces in regolith. Nobody has ever reverse-engineered WTW relics into something novel to us. In fact, nobody is sure what the WTW even looked like (there are a couple of candidate remains of things that might have had big brain analogues). So, they make a nice Rorschach test for scientists to project their issues onto.
Added later:
Opinions on the WTW vary from "they were nigh-gods" to "they weren't actually intelligent at all" to "they are a Satanic plot."
PEAFAL ships interact with the interstellar medium (ISM) in ways that piss off astronomers specializing in the ISM. PEAFAL wakes could be detected at galactic distance but no non-human wakes are visible. The deal with the ISM means the longer the journey, the more likely it terminates in an energetic event somewhere in deep space. Effectively, this means there's a 1% chance per light year traversed of an unplanned terminal energetic event, which can be reduced somewhat by sending ships in pairs: one (presumably automated) trail blazer and one survivor. This is just annoying for robot probes but is an inhibiting factor for crewed starship recruitment.
PEAFAL ships are sufficiently expensive nobody builds huge ones. As well, nobody knows how to make closed cycle life support systems (LSS): the longest anyone has gone before an isolated ISS fell over and died is 20 years. Efforts to establish colonies on other planets have been very educational.
They seem to have been interested in smaller terrestrial worlds, many of which now have life forms whose last common ancestor was six billion years ago. So probably they were xenoforming worlds? But apparently only barren worlds, for some reason. Also, if they used the PEAFAL drive, there's absolutely no evidence of it.
Age is one reason why the WTW are very enigmatic. 2.5 billion years of radiation and micrometeorites has turned all their artificial stuff into scrap. Sometimes, into subtle chemical traces in regolith. Nobody has ever reverse-engineered WTW relics into something novel to us. In fact, nobody is sure what the WTW even looked like (there are a couple of candidate remains of things that might have had big brain analogues). So, they make a nice Rorschach test for scientists to project their issues onto.
Added later:
Opinions on the WTW vary from "they were nigh-gods" to "they weren't actually intelligent at all" to "they are a Satanic plot."
PEAFAL ships interact with the interstellar medium (ISM) in ways that piss off astronomers specializing in the ISM. PEAFAL wakes could be detected at galactic distance but no non-human wakes are visible. The deal with the ISM means the longer the journey, the more likely it terminates in an energetic event somewhere in deep space. Effectively, this means there's a 1% chance per light year traversed of an unplanned terminal energetic event, which can be reduced somewhat by sending ships in pairs: one (presumably automated) trail blazer and one survivor. This is just annoying for robot probes but is an inhibiting factor for crewed starship recruitment.
PEAFAL ships are sufficiently expensive nobody builds huge ones. As well, nobody knows how to make closed cycle life support systems (LSS): the longest anyone has gone before an isolated ISS fell over and died is 20 years. Efforts to establish colonies on other planets have been very educational.